PIC24EP256GP206T-I/MR - 70 MIPS 16-bit MCU 256KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: PIC24EP256GP206T-I/MR ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $6.92 | $6.92 |
| 10 | $6.18 | $61.80 |
| 100 | $5.21 | $521.00 |
| 500 | $4.43 | $2,215.00 |
| 1,000 | $3.85 | $3,850.00 |
PIC24EP256GP206T-I/MR Overview
A 16-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a microcontroller whose data path, registers and ALU natively operate on 16-bit words, offering higher code density and arithmetic precision than 8-bit MCUs while retaining deterministic real-time interrupt behaviour. Within the broader taxonomy, the PIC24EP sits as: 16-bit MCU -> dsPIC/PIC24 family -> PIC24EP general-purpose sub-family -> Microchip 16-bit DSC ecosystem -> semiconductor. The "T" suffix denotes tape-and-reel packaging, "I" denotes the industrial -40C to +85C temperature range, and "MR" indicates the 64-pin VQFN package.
Key specifications include 70 MIPS (Million Instructions Per Second) sustained throughput from the modified Harvard architecture running at up to 140 MHz, hardware multiply/divide, a 32-bit core timer, and a 16-bit asynchronous timer. The device includes USB 2.0 full-speed On-The-Go support, two UART modules, two SPI interfaces, and two I2C buses. The integrated op-amps can be configured for signal conditioning, while the CTMU enables touch sensing, precise time measurement, and temperature conversion.
Typical applications include industrial control panels, motor control firmware platforms, sensor signal processing nodes, low-power medical instrumentation, and USB peripherals. The combination of op-amps and a fast 12-bit ADC makes the PIC24EP256GP206T-I/MR especially suitable for closed-loop analog control, while the PTG enables complex peripheral sequencing without CPU intervention.
When designing with this MCU, allocate PCB area for a decoupling capacitor network (100 nF + 1 uF per VDD pin pair), keep the analog supply traces short, and use the ICSP programming header footprint for in-circuit debugging. The VQFN-64 package requires thermal vias under the exposed pad to meet the 31 C/W theta_JA specification.
This page synthesises distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives within the same VQFN-64 footprint, and practical design notes that go beyond what the manufacturer datasheet alone provides for engineers evaluating this Microchip PIC24EP MCU.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC24EP256GP206T-I/MR — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Variants in this series
Same-series models that are drop-in compatible with PIC24EP256GP206T-I/MR (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Package, Core Architecture, I/O Pins, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC24EP256GP206-I/MR
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC24EP256GP206-E/MR
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.74 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24EP512GP206-I/MR
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC24EP128GP206T-I/MR
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC24EP128MC206T-I/MR
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.65 / Unit
View Datasheet →dsPIC33EP256GP506-I/MR
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC24EP256GP206T-I/MR Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC24E (16-bit modified Harvard) |
| Core Speed | 70 MIPS (140 MHz max) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 256 KB (85.5K x 24) |
| RAM | 32 KB |
| Pin Count | 64 |
| Package | VQFN-64 (MR) 9x9 mm with exposed pad |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial, "I") |
| ADC | 10/12-bit, up to 16 channels |
| Op-Amps (internal) | 2 |
| CTMU | Yes (Charge Time Measurement Unit) |
| PTG (Peripheral Trigger Generator) | Yes |
| USB | USB 2.0 Full-Speed OTG |
| UART | 2 |
| SPI | 2 |
| I2C | 2 |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 3.0 V to 3.6 V |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free | Yes |
PIC24EP256GP206T-I/MR Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RP5/RB5 — Remappable I/O port RB5 |
| Pin 2 | RP6/RB6 — Remappable I/O port RB6 |
| Pin 3 | RP7/RB7 — Remappable I/O port RB7 |
| Pin 4 | RP8/RB8 — Remappable I/O port RB8 |
| Pin 5 | RP9/RB9 — Remappable I/O port RB9 |
| Pin 6 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 7 | VDD — Digital supply 3.3V |
| Pin 8 | OSCI — Primary oscillator input |
| Pin 9 | OSCO — Primary oscillator output |
| Pin 10 | SOSCI — Secondary oscillator input (32.768 kHz) |
| Pin 11 | SOSCO — Secondary oscillator output |
| Pin 12 | MCLR — Master clear reset input |
| Pin 13 | RP10/RB10 — Remappable I/O port RB10 |
| Pin 14 | RP11/RB11 — Remappable I/O port RB11 |
| Pin 15 | RP12/RB12 — Remappable I/O port RB12 |
| Pin 16 | RP13/RB13 — Remappable I/O port RB13 |
| Pin 17 | RP14/RB14 — Remappable I/O port RB14 |
| Pin 18 | RP15/RB15 — Remappable I/O port RB15 |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Digital supply 3.3V |
| Pin 21 | AN0/CVREF+/RA0 — Analog input 0 / CVREF+ |
| Pin 22 | AN1/CVREF-/RA1 — Analog input 1 / CVREF- |
| Pin 23 | AN2/RA2 — Analog input 2 |
| Pin 24 | AN3/RA3 — Analog input 3 |
| Pin 25 | AN4/RA4 — Analog input 4 |
| Pin 26 | AN5/RA5 — Analog input 5 |
| Pin 27 | AN6/RA6 — Analog input 6 |
| Pin 28 | AN7/RA7 — Analog input 7 |
| Pin 29 | AN8/RB0 — Analog input 8 / RB0 |
| Pin 30 | AN9/RB1 — Analog input 9 / RB1 |
| Pin 31 | AN10/RB2 — Analog input 10 / RB2 |
| Pin 32 | AN11/RB3 — Analog input 11 / RB3 |
| Pin 33 | AN12/RB4 — Analog input 12 / RB4 |
| Pin 34 | AN13/RC0 — Analog input 13 / RC0 |
| Pin 35 | AN14/RC1 — Analog input 14 / RC1 |
| Pin 36 | AN15/RC2 — Analog input 15 / RC2 |
| Pin 37 | OC1/RC3 — Output Compare 1 / RC3 |
| Pin 38 | OC2/RC4 — Output Compare 2 / RC4 |
| Pin 39 | OC3/RC5 — Output Compare 3 / RC5 |
| Pin 40 | OC4/RC6 — Output Compare 4 / RC6 |
| Pin 41 | OC5/RC7 — Output Compare 5 / RC7 |
| Pin 42 | OC6/RC8 — Output Compare 6 / RC8 |
| Pin 43 | OC7/RC9 — Output Compare 7 / RC9 |
| Pin 44 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 45 | VDD — Digital supply 3.3V |
| Pin 46 | D+/RG2 — USB D+ data line |
| Pin 47 | D-/RG3 — USB D- data line |
| Pin 48 | VBUS/RG6 — USB VBUS detect / RG6 |
| Pin 49 | VUSB3V3 — USB 3.3V regulator output |
| Pin 50 | RP16/RD0 — Remappable I/O port RD0 |
| Pin 51 | RP17/RD1 — Remappable I/O port RD1 |
| Pin 52 | RP18/RD2 — Remappable I/O port RD2 |
| Pin 53 | RP19/RD3 — Remappable I/O port RD3 |
| Pin 54 | RP20/RD4 — Remappable I/O port RD4 |
| Pin 55 | RP21/RD5 — Remappable I/O port RD5 |
| Pin 56 | RP22/RD6 — Remappable I/O port RD6 |
| Pin 57 | RP23/RD7 — Remappable I/O port RD7 |
| Pin 58 | RP24/RD8 — Remappable I/O port RD8 |
| Pin 59 | RP25/RD9 — Remappable I/O port RD9 |
| Pin 60 | RP26/RD10 — Remappable I/O port RD10 |
| Pin 61 | RP27/RD11 — Remappable I/O port RD11 |
| Pin 62 | RP28/RD12 — Remappable I/O port RD12 |
| Pin 63 | RP29/RD13 — Remappable I/O port RD13 |
| Pin 64 | RD14/RD15 — Remappable I/O ports RD14/RD15 |
Typical Applications
PIC24EP256GP206T-I/MR is suitable for 7 applications: Industrial Control Panels, USB Peripherals and HID Devices, Sensor Signal Conditioning Nodes, Low-Power Medical Instrumentation, Motor Control Firmware Platforms, Display and Touch Interfaces, Communications Gateway (Modbus/TCP-to-USB).
Industrial Control Panels
The PIC24EP256GP206T-I/MR is well suited to industrial control panels because its 70 MIPS core, 256 KB Flash, and integrated USB 2.0 OTG enable rich HMI graphics plus field-bus stacks (Modbus, CAN optional via transceiver). The 12-bit ADC with up to 16 channels directly reads 4-20 mA analog sensors through external resistors, and the two internal op-amps provide first-stage signal conditioning without a separate analog IC. The industrial -40C to +85C temperature range covers cabinet environments, while the VQFN-64 9x9 mm footprint fits standard 60 mm panel cutouts.
Recommended
USB Peripherals and HID Devices
With USB 2.0 full-speed On-The-Go integrated on-chip, the PIC24EP256GP206T-I/MR can implement USB HID, CDC, or vendor-class peripherals without an external PHY or controller. The 256 KB Flash is sufficient for the Microchip USB stack plus a custom application layer, while 32 KB RAM handles the USB endpoint buffers plus runtime data. The industrial temperature range and VQFN-64 footprint enable compact, ruggedised USB dongles, dataloggers, and configuration tools used in field-service instrumentation.
Recommended
Sensor Signal Conditioning Nodes
The integrated dual op-amps and CTMU make the PIC24EP256GP206T-I/MR an excellent signal-conditioning front-end. The op-amps can be configured as instrumentation, transimpedance, or buffer stages ahead of the 12-bit ADC, while the CTMU enables touch-sensing, capacitive level measurement, or precision timing of resistance-to-digital conversions. The 16 ADC channels support multi-sensor arrays in process-control or environmental-monitoring nodes, and the 70 MIPS throughput handles on-the-fly linearisation and filtering.
Recommended
Low-Power Medical Instrumentation
The PIC24EP256GP206T-I/MR's deep-sleep current of approximately 20 uA combined with multiple wake-up sources suits battery-powered medical devices such as portable patient monitors, spirometers, and glucometer interfaces. The 12-bit ADC captures biosignal waveforms from electrode front-ends built using the on-chip op-amps, and the USB OTG enables direct tethered data transfer to a clinician PC. The industrial temperature range covers home-care and clinical environments from +5C to +40C ambient.
Recommended
Motor Control Firmware Platforms
Although the PIC24EP256GP206T-I/MR is the general-purpose variant, its 70 MIPS core, 12-bit ADC with 16 channels, and 32 KB RAM handle BLDC, stepper, and DC motor firmware including trapezoidal commutation and basic FOC. For designs requiring field-oriented control with DSP-class inner loops, the dsPIC33EP256GP506 is a drop-in upgrade in the same VQFN-64 footprint. Pair the MCU with external gate drivers such as the MCP8024 for a complete 3-phase motor-control board.
Recommended
Display and Touch Interfaces
The PIC24EP256GP206T-I/MR can drive small TFT or OLED graphical displays through its Parallel Master Port (PMP) and drive capacitive touch overlays through the CTMU. The 70 MIPS performance handles graphics primitives, fonts, and touch-tracking algorithms in real time without external display controllers. The 256 KB Flash stores fonts, bitmaps, and UI logic, while the 32 KB RAM serves as the framebuffer for small QVGA/WQVGA panels. Industrial temperature grade supports harsh-environment HMIs.
Recommended
Communications Gateway (Modbus/TCP-to-USB)
The combination of two UART channels, USB OTG, and 70 MIPS core positions the PIC24EP256GP206T-I/MR as a Modbus RTU-to-USB bridge, RS-485-to-TCP gateway, or simple field-bus protocol converter. The 256 KB Flash is sufficient for TCP/IP light stack plus application protocol parsing, and the 32 KB RAM holds TCP socket buffers. The integrated op-amps and ADC monitor the field-side supply voltage for diagnostics.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC24EP256GP206T-I/MR — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC24EP256GP206-I/MR | PIC24EP256GP206-E/MR | PIC24EP512GP206-I/MR | PIC24EP128GP206T-I/MR | dsPIC33EP256GP506-I/MR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | VQFN-64 (MR) 9x9 mm | VQFN-64 (MR) 9x9 mm - same | VQFN-64 (MR) 9x9 mm - same | VQFN-64 (MR) 9x9 mm - same | VQFN-64 (MR) 9x9 mm - same | VQFN-64 (MR) 9x9 mm - same |
| Core Speed | 70 MIPS / 140 MHz | 70 MIPS / 140 MHz | 70 MIPS / 140 MHz | 70 MIPS / 140 MHz | 70 MIPS / 140 MHz | 70 MIPS / 140 MHz + DSP engine |
| Flash | 256 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB | 512 KB | 128 KB | 256 KB |
| RAM | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 48 KB | 16 KB | 52 KB |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +85C | -40C to +125C (E) | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C |
| USB | USB 2.0 FS OTG | USB 2.0 FS OTG | USB 2.0 FS OTG | USB 2.0 FS OTG | USB 2.0 FS OTG | USB 2.0 FS OTG |
| ADC Channels | Up to 16 channels | Up to 16 channels | Up to 16 channels | Up to 16 channels | Up to 16 channels | Up to 16 channels |
| DSP Engine | No | No | No | No | No | Yes (dsPIC33) |
| Approx Unit Price (qty 100) | $5.21 | $5.20 (tray) | $6.10 (extended grade premium) | $6.80 | $4.10 | $6.50 |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated USB 2.0 Full-Speed OTG plus dual op-amps and CTMU (vs PIC24EP128GP206T-I/MR)
- General-purpose peripheral set rather than motor-control PWM (vs PIC24EP128MC206T-I/MR)
- Drop-in upgrade path to 512 KB Flash for growth (vs PIC24EP512GP206-I/MR)
Design Notes
The VQFN-64 (MR) 9x9 mm package relies on the exposed thermal pad for heat dissipation. Solder the EP to a copper pad of at least 6x6 mm and stitch thermal vias (8 to 12 vias, 0.3 mm drill, 0.5 mm pitch) through to the inner ground plane. Without thermal vias the junction-to-ambient theta_JA rises from approximately 31 C/W to over 60 C/W, risking thermal shutdown at high CPU utilisation above 70 MIPS sustained.
Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor within 2 mm of every VDD pin pair, and add a single 4.7 uF bulk capacitor near the package. For USB applications add a 100 nF on the VUSB3V3 pin. The PIC24EP256GP206T-I/MR operates from 3.0 V to 3.6 V; powering above 3.6 V will permanently damage the MCU. Use a low-noise LDO such as the MCP1700 rather than a switching regulator if analog accuracy is required on ADC channels.
Route the USB D+ and D- traces as a 90-ohm differential pair with matched length (within 150 mil) and keep them away from high-frequency switching nodes. Place the 27 ohm series termination resistors close to the MCU pins. For external crystal oscillator, keep traces short and surround with a ground guard ring to minimise EMI radiation.
Do not skip the ICSP programming header on prototype boards - the PIC24EP256GP206T-I/MR is in-circuit programmable and field firmware updates save costly board respins. Also remember the MCLR pin must be pulled up to VDD through a 10 kohm resistor for normal operation; leaving it floating causes the MCU to remain in reset.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per distributor listing; AEC-Q100 not qualified (industrial grade only). For automotive choose the PIC24EP256GP206-E/MR extended grade variant.
